Guard finger having a ledger plate



May 29, 1956 s. H. FRAZEE 2,747,358

GUARD FINGER HAVING A LEDGER PLATE Filed Jan. 13, 1955' /6\ L3 l3 9 :4, /5 V [I I im n O 0 l /9 v A 2/ 1a r George H. Frazee INVENTOR.

BY WWW Unitd GUARD FINGER HAVING A LEDGER PLATE George H. Frazee, Colusa, Calif.

Application January 13, 1955, Serial No. 481,574

1 Claim. (Cl. 56309) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in ledger plates particularly for the cutter bars of harvesters, mowing machines, etc., and has for its primary object to provide a plate of this character which is of substantially the same width as the usual cutter knives whereby greatly improved cutting efliciency will be had under all conditions.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an improved ledger plate of the aforementioned character comprising novel securing means whereby said plate may be readily removed for replacement when necessary.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a ledger plate of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, in horizontal section, showing a portion of a cutter bar equipped with ledger plates embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view With parts broken away of a guard with the improved ledger plate in position thereon.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the rear portion of the guard with the ledger plate omitted.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 6 designates generally a guard of suitable metal which is secured in the usual manner on the finger bar of a conventional sickle or cutter bar,

2,747,358 Patented May 29, 1956 as at 7. The guard 6 includes a finger 8 having formed therein the usual socket 9. Formed in the back portion 20 of the finger 8 is a threaded opening 10. Fixed on the finger 8 and rising therefrom on opposite sides of the opening 10 are pins 11.

Removably mounted on the guard 6 is a ledger plate 12 of suitable metal. The ledger plate 12 is substantially triangular and of a width corresponding to that of the usual cutter blades 13 of the bar 7. The ledger plate 12 includes serrated, bevelled cutting edges 14. The ledger plate 12 further includes, on its forward end, a tongue 15 which is engageable in the socket 9 in the finger 8.

The rear end portion 21 of the ledger plate 12 is provided with transversely spaced openings 16 for the reception of the pins 11 on the guard 6. Between the openings 16, the rear end portion of the ledger plate 12 is further provided with a conical opening 18 for the reception of a countersunk screw 19 which is threaded into the opening 10 for removably securing said ledger plate in position on the guard 6.

It is thought that the manner in which the ledger plate is installed will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the ledger plate 12 is slipped forwardly into the finger 8 and the tongue 15 is engaged in the socket 9. The rear end of the ledger plate 12 is then dropped over the pins 11 and the screw 19 is inserted. Of course, to move the ledger plate flie foregoing procedure is substantially reversed.

It is believed that the many advantages of a ledger plate constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A cutter bar of the character described comprising a guard including a finger, said finger having a threaded opening in its rear end portion, upstanding pins on the finger on opposite sides of the opening, a triangular ledger plate of a substantial width removably mounted on the finger and having spaced openings therein accommodating the pins, said ledger plate further having a tapered opening therein between the first named openings, and a countersunk screw engaged in the last named opening and threaded into the finger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,879,195 Gray Sept. 27, 1932 

